The AI landscape was once a niche, primarily fascinating to enthusiasts and researchers, rarely making waves in the mainstream.
That changed when OpenAI introduced ChatGPT. With its ability to both wow and awe, the technology disrupted industries and forced other tech giants to take AI seriously. Since then, companies have either integrated ChatGPT into their workflows or raced to develop their own competing products.
Among them is Google.
However, unlike it ever experienced before, Large Language Models pose a danger to its core business.
It was a "code red" and soon, the company created Gemini, its answer to the emerging LLM AI hype.
Now that Gemini has taken off, it's time for it to stand on its own feet.
Google said that it has removed Gemini from the Google app for iOS devices, telling users that they can access the AI by downloading the dedicated Gemini app from the App Store.
"We’re making some changes to create an even better Gemini experience on iOS," the company's statement said.
"Gemini is now available as its own app, and that’s now the best place to use Gemini. To continue using Gemini, download the new Gemini app from the App Store."
In other words, Google is shuttering Gemini support in the Google app on iOS, pushing users to use the standalone Gemini app instead
This strategy can make Google lose a lot of Gemini users, since a lot of the AI's users use it directly from the Google app. Asking those people to download yet another app for the same purpose may annoy them.
However, the move allows it to make less redundancy, preventing it from needing to maintain Gemini features in multiple apps. Since the company released a proper Gemini app, the move makes sense.
And business-wise, the move also allows it to make Gemini to more directly compete with ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity and other consumer-facing AI chatbots.
To make people use the Gemini app, Google said that with the iOS app, users can engage in voice conversations with the AI assistant through Gemini Live; connect their Google apps like Search, YouTube, Maps, and Gmail to Gemini; ask questions and explore topics; plan trips; get AI summaries and deep dives; create images; and more.
Users can interact with Gemini via text, voice, or by using the camera.
The email also reminds users that Gemini can still make mistakes, so users should continue to double-check their responses.
By eliminating Gemini from the Google app, the move marks another move by Google to capture mainstream users seeking AI tools for everyday tasks on their phones
Customers who want to upgrade to the paid subscription that provides access to Gemini Advanced can also do so through the iOS app, where the Google One AI Premium plan is offered as an in-app purchase.